Russians held for illegally possessing monkeys

Two Russian tourists were arrested Friday on charges of illegally possessing three protected pick-tailed monkeys. They allegedly exploited the animals for money by allowing tourists to take photos with the monkeys.

Andrey Belov, 31, and Ekaterina Denisovich, 22, were arrested by a group of police led by Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division chief Maj-General Norasak Hemnithi.

They were arrested on Phang Nga province's Koh Khai Nok island while luring other tourists to pay to take photos with the three pick-tailed monkeys, named Antony, Sam and Sonya.

Pick-tailed monkeys are protected and possession of them is banned under the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act BE 2535.

Belov and Denisovich were unable to show police any legal documents permitting wildlife possession issued by a state agency. They produced only health examination papers for the monkeys to officials.

The two were detained at Phuket provincial police station.